Drying-kiln



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. G. F. SPEER.

(No Model.)

DRYING KILN.

at ented Jan. 23, 1883.

(No Model.) 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

- G. F. SPEER.

DRYING KILN.

Patented Jan.23, 1883.

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GARRETT F. SPEER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

DRYING-KILN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 271,144, dated January 23, 1863. Application tiled June 28,1882. (No model.)

To all whom 215 may concern:

Be it known that I, GARRETT F. SPEER, of

the city and countyof Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Drying-Kilns, of which the following is a specification. My invention has reference to drying-kilns generally, but more particularly to those adapted to dry lumber, fruits, 850.; and it consists in providing a drying-chamber with heating and air-circulating apparatus, and locating on one or both ends thereof condensingsurfaces, through which fresh air is continually passing; further in combining with adrying-kiln in which rotary air-currents are set up a refrigerating and impregnating apparatus; further, in providing the kiln at one end with an oblique and flattened induction-tube and combining therewith an eduction tube or fine and oneor more valves, by which the influx of air to the kiln maybe controlled withoutvarying the speed of the blower, and in many details of construction, all of which are fully set forth in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form part thereof.

This invention is an improvementupon Letters Patent granted to me January 10, 1582, and numbered 252,272; and its object is to provide the kiln with more perfect condensing surfaces, whereby the moisture suspended in the warm air and extracted from the materials being dried may be more perfectly and speedily condensed and removed. My objectis also to prevent any unnecessary escape of warm air, but, on the other hand, to cause a more perfect rotary ,circulation of the air, due to the greater tendency to a vacuum produced by the increased condensation of the moisture of the air at one end of the said kiln; and, also, to be able to regulate and readily control the influxof air to the drying-chamber. In addition to the foregoing objects, I also provide means to impregnate the wood being dried with vapors of sulphur, creosote, &c., to preserve the same, and also to cause said vapors or air to be highly refrigerated before being blown into the drying-chamber.

In the drawings, Figure l is a sectional elevation of my improved kiln. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of part of same on line a: m. Fig. :5 is a perspective view of the blast mechanism and condensing-doors, and Fig. 4isa sectional elevation of my improved condensing doors.

A is the drying'chamber.

B is the floor.

U are the steam heating-pipes.

D are the doors through which the chamber A is charged or discharged.

E are a series of vertical condensing-boxes, and are preferable made of thin sheet metal. They are arranged at one end of the kiln-chamber, side by side, leavin'g vertical spaces F between them, and opening at the bottom 6 into the broadened airnozzle G, which is arranged at an angle,-as shown, the mouth of which is close to the lower floor of the kiln, and its upper lip is turned up to form a trough, g, to receive the condensed water from the condensing-surfaces E and G. From this spoutg the water runs into the tank G. The airis forced V in by a blower, H, and that which passes up through the condensers E escapes by valved apertures N, the valve being adapted to control the pressure of the air in the condensers.

Pivoted about an inch above the trough g is a rod or axle, 0, carrying the vane or valve plate 0, and located below and in front of the mouth of the nozzle G is an air eduction orescape tube, P, provided with a longitudinal aperture, 1), immediately in front of said nozzlemouth. Journaled above this tube is a rod, 1", which is provided on the end with a orank,1t, and along that part located within the chamber with a valve-plate, R, which is adapted to close the orifice 19. When the valvesR and 0 are in the positions shown in Fig. 1 all of the air passes into the chamber A; but when the valve-plate R is turned up, as indicated by dotted lines, the air is then guided down into the tube I and escapes into the atmosphere. By any intermediate adjustment, part of the air may be passed into the chamber A and part out by tube P. a

The fan H may draw air directly from the atmosphere; but in warm weather the air contains so much moisture that it is advisable to draw it through a refrigerator, J, by pipe I. The cooling liquid or gases pass in by pipe m around tubes z and out by valve M, and the air is drawn in through valve K, pipes or tubes 6, and pipe I. p

If it is desired to impregnate the wood with vacuum being created by the escaping air.

WEE,

preserving gases or moisture, the valve K may be wholly or partly closed, valve M is closed, and valve L opened. Now the gases, pure or mixed with air, will be drawn by pipe I to blower H and forced into the chamber A.

I do not limit myself to any particular kind of refrigerator, as there are many well-known types in the market, and any of them may be used.

When the vertical rigid condensers E are used the doors D are at the other end or upon the sides; but in some cases the doors must be on the side on which the blast-nozzleis located, and in those cases the condensers are made upon the doors themselves,as shown in Figs.3 and 4., in which D are the sheet-metal boxes and N the valved openings. If desired, the valves to openings N may be dispensed with. The bottoms of the air trunks or boxes are left open, and slide over an aperture, d, which has its sides projecting up, seats to form a guide for the air.

It is immaterial to my invention how the air-condensers at the end of the chamber are made, as I do not limit myself to any particular construction, at the same time preferring those shown.

In operating, the air being cooled and blown in through nozzle G and condensers at the end of the chamber, it isheated as it passes under and through the heatingpipe 0, becoming heated and rarefied and capable of holding more moisture, and that adjacent orin contact with the cooling-surface G and condensers become cooled, and condensation of the moisture contained therein takes place. The moisture runs down the coinilensing-surfaces into the.

trough g, and from there-into the well G. The

infiux of air by the nozzle Gr causes a partial vacuum, and the air follows the direction of the arrows, causing a rotary circulation and constantly giving up its moisture, which act also causes a partial vacuum and increases the rotary circulation.

lfit is desired to change the air in the chamber A, the valve R is raised, as indicated by dotted lines, and the air passes out by tube P after passing under valve-plate O, a partial If a slight blast of air is only required, the valve It is turned, as shown in Fig. 5, in which part of the air is shown escaping, and the remainder iorced into chamber A, creating a circulatory action.

I am awareof the patents to Knott, No.

236,339, Winants, No. 173,198, and Bate, No. 240,004, and claim nothing therein set forth or claimed.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. A drying-kiln provided on its end with vertical air-condensers, in combination with a fan, a main or nozzle to admit fresh air into the kiln-chamber and condensers, and exits from said condensers, whereby allof the air is drawn from the atmosphere outside the kiln, part forced into the kiln-chamber, and par-t forced through the condensers back into the air, substantially as set forth.

2. A drying-kiln provided on its end with vertical air-condensers having inlets and exits, in combination with a fan, an oblique blastnozzle, and heating apparatus, substantially as and for-the purpose specified.

3. In a drying-kiln, a broad or flattened blast-nozzle, in combination with an escapeflue and valve mechanism for directing the current of air into the chamber or into the flue, or partinto each, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a drying-kiln, a broad or flattened blast-nozzle set at an inclination, in combination with a trough at its bottom, an air-escape tube, and valve mechanism for directing the current ofair into the chamber or into the flue, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a dryingkiln, a broad or flattened air or blast nozzle set at an inclination, in combination with vertical air-condensers, a trough at the bottom of the nozzle, an air-escape hue, and valve mechanism for controlling the air and causing it to pass into the chamber or into the flue, substantially as set forth.

6. In a dryingkiln, a broad or flattened air or blast nozzle set at an. inclination, in combi-.

' nation with vertical air-condensers, a trough atthe bottom of the nozzle, an air-escape flue, valve mechanism for causing the air to pass into the chamber or flue, and heating apparatus, substantially as and for the purpose speci- 7. In a drying-kiln, doors provided on their inner sides with condensing-surfaces, in combination with means for directing air-currents up between said condensing-surfaces and doors, substantially as set forth. 1

8. The combination of flattened nozzle Gr, trough g, valve-plate O, valve R, and air-escape tube P, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

9. In a dryingkiln, the combination, with the drying-chamber, of an air-escape tube, P, a fan to continually force fresh air therein, means to cause rotary currents of air in said chamber, and refrigerating apparatus to cool the air fed to the fan, substantially as set forth.

10. In a drying-kiln, the combination, with the drying-chamber, of a fan to force air therein, means to cause rotary currents of air in said chamber, and apparatus for impregnating the air fed to the fan with preserving gases or vapors, substantially for the purpose specified.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

GARRETT F. SPEER.

Witnesses:

R. M. HUNTER,

1%. S. CHILD, Jr. 

